The Central Utah Water Conservancy District held a public hearing on August 25, 2026, to receive comments regarding a proposed tax increase, according to a report published September 2. The hearing, which was held both in person at the district headquarters in Orem and virtually via Zoom, marks the first of three scheduled hearings on the matter.
During the hearing, Assistant General Manager Bart Leeflang detailed the district's operations, including the Central Utah Project and various water treatment plants. Leeflang explained that the tax increase is necessary due to aging infrastructure, impacts from wildfires, and required capital replacement projects. Specifically, the district has made $65 million in recent investments and has planned capital replacement projects totaling over $3 million for Heber Valley and $5 million for Vernal facilities.
The proposed tax increase would raise revenue by $2 million, moving from $131 million to $133 million. This represents a 1.5% increase in the tax rate, with the maximum allowable rate being 0.0004. Leeflang also noted that several other entities within the district's boundaries are also proposing tax increases.
Public comment during the hearing included mixed reactions from attendees. One resident from Pleasant Grove argued against the increase, suggesting that trustees should not have taxing authority because they are not elected officials. A resident from Orem expressed concerns that even small increases make it difficult to afford housing while on a fixed income.
Other comments included a resident from Salt Lake City expressing support for balancing affordable wholesale costs with infrastructure maintenance, and a resident from Draper inquiring about multi-year planning and the existence of a rainy day fund. A resident from Kamas suggested charging for water usage instead of raising taxes to provide more motivation for conservation. Additionally, a resident from Eagle Mountain expressed concerns regarding water quality monitoring and taxation for data centers. Aleisa Eaton expressed opposition to the tax increase via email.
Chair Shelley Brennan adjourned the hearing at 6:40 PM. She noted that staff members would be available to address questions and that online participants would receive email follow-ups regarding their concerns.
